Building a

Map of Egypt

Historical Context: The peoples of the Nile River Valley began

to settle on and around the Lower Nile and the Delta region of
Africa more than 5,000 years ago. These people learned to
adapt their nomadic ways of hunting and gathering to agriculture
(planting and harvesting crops) and eventually began settling
towns and cities. The success of this agriculture, fishing, and trade
relied upon the seasonal flooding cycles of the river, as well as the
protection from invading neighbors offered by the surrounding
deserts. The rise of the pharaohs and the civilization of Egypt was
directly tied to the geography of this unique region.
Time: One class period (40 minutes)
Correlation to Standards: World History, Geography
Materials Needed: Accompanying map and worksheet,
coloring instruments (crayons, markers, colored pencils)
Objective: Students will be able to:
Create a geopolitical map of Egypt and the surrounding area.
Create an accurate key for their map.
Interpret their map to understand the importance of Nile River.
Develop inferences of the relationship between geography and
development of civilizations.
Task: Teacher will provide blank map for each student.
Teacher will help students to label the features in the following order:
Nile River, Nile Delta, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Western
Desert, Eastern Desert, Nubia, Upper Egypt, Lower Egypt, Luxor/
Thebes, Giza, Memphis, Valley of Kings, Cairo, Alexandria.
1. Color the river and seas blue and key as “Water.” This will
help visually show the importance of the river system.
2. Students color the area around Nile River green; label the
key “Nile River Valley.”
3. Shade the Eastern and Western Deserts lightly and key
them “Desert”.

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 Building a
Map of Egypt

After the maps and key are complete, have students answer
the questions on the following page. Give students time to
answer on their own, then as you are going over answers you
may prompt them with questions found below to help their
understanding of the map and the relationship to settlement.
Use these teacher prompts to assist with the critical thinking
questions.
#1. Look at the map. Where are all the settlements? Why is
this important?
#2. What do we get from rivers and large bodies of water?
#3. Think about where Egypt is…Africa! What animals might
you find in and around a river in Africa?
#4. What do people need to settle down and build permanent
towns? Hints… Food, water, protection, trade
#5. If not everyone needs to be farmers, what specialized jobs
might other people have in communities along a river?
Assessment: Teacher will visually check map for accuracy.
Answers to questions may vary slightly, but overall theme
should be same.

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 Building a
Map of Egypt

Label The Following: Settlements:

Compass Directions Thebes, Luxor
Bodies of Water: Giza
Nile River and Delta Memphis
Mediterranean Sea Valley of the Kings
Red Sea Cairo
Landforms: Tanis
Eastern Desert Alexandria
Western Desert Map Key:
Nubia

Map Key

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 Building a
Map of Egypt
Use your map to answer the following:
1. What direction does the Nile flow (from what to what)?

2. What geographic feature makes up most of Egypt?

3. What major body of water does the Nile end into?

Critical Thinking:
1. What conclusion can you draw about the people of Egypt
and the geography?

2. Why would the Nile River be so critical to survival?

3. What animals might you find in ancient Egypt because of

the location and geography?

4. How might the geography help the people here develop

into the civilization of ancient Egypt?

5. Based on what you know about the geography, what might

be important jobs or occupations in this civilization?

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 Building a
Map of Egypt
Answer Key
Questions
Use your map to answer the following:
1. What direction does the Nile flow (from what to what)?
South to North
2. What geographic feature makes up most of Egypt?
Desert
3. What major body of water does the Nile end into?
Mediterranean Sea
Critical Thinking:
1. What conclusion can you draw about the people of Egypt
and the geography?
They settle near to water
2. Why would the Nile River be so critical to survival?
Provides water for irrigation, fishing, travel routes
3. What animals might you find in ancient Egypt because of
the location and geography?
crocodile, hippopotamus, lions, horses, oxen, water birds, jackal,
snakes, monkeys
4. How might the geography help the civilization in Egypt
develop?
Water for farming, trade, deserts for protection from invasions
5. Based on what you know about the geography, what might
be important jobs or occupations in this civilization?
Farmers, fishermen, sailors, boat builders, stone masons

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 Building a
Map of Egypt

Label The Following: Settlements:

Compass Directions Thebes, Luxor
Bodies of Water: Giza
Nile River and Delta Memphis
Mediterranean Sea Valley of the Kings
Red Sea Cairo
Landforms: Tanis
Eastern Desert Alexandria
Western Desert Map Key:
Nubia

Map Key

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